A project supported by the European Space Agency is now available for connecting to the web and enjoying, while traveling by train at very high speed, all the resources offered on the Internet! Its name is Thalysnet.
The principle is simple: a satellite-tracking antenna on the roof of the train ensures a permanent link with a telecommunications satellite. The link is then relayed inside the train through wireless access points installed in the ceilings of the carriages.
A great technological achievement: a continuous, two-way link between a train travelling at 300 kilometres per hour and a satellite at an altitude of 36 000 kilometres.
The technology demonstrator was developed with ESA support by the UK-based company 21Net, an operator specialised in providing Internet access via satellite.
A consortium, lead by Nokia Siemens Networks and including 21Net, has now implemented a commercial version of the system on Thalys trains.
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by Shnagabad, on May 20 2008:
Wow, cool. So in theory this should also work on planes right?
by Andres, on May 21 2008:
Hi Shnagabad. Southwest Airlines announced that they will be testing Satellite Broadband Internet Access on four planes this summer (2008). According to their own press release, Southwest is going to be testing in-flight broadband satellite Wi-Fi access so you can check your mail and do all sorts of stuff (although certain things will be restricted).
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